I have been diagnosed with external tooth resorption. My dentist has explained that "we do not know what causes it". He also said it is more common in people who have had braces. I have not had braces. In searching the web, all I can find is basic definitions. Concurrently, I am developing arthritis in my hands and shoulders. Here are my questions. 1.) Could the resoption be caused by my HIV drugs. (I am twenty years HIV+ and have been taking protease inhibitors since they became available.) 2.) Could my arthritis becaused by my HIV drugs? 3.) Could these be related? 4.) My dentist is recommending tooth extraction and replacement with an implant. Will my imared immune system inhibit the asimilatino of an implant?

Thank you very much for your advice.

John in Chicago

Response from Dr. Henry

I am not aware of any data that clearly links a specific HIV drug to either localized dental problems or arthritis. Both of those types of problems are fairly common in the general population so it might be difficult to nail down if a drug was causing a problem in a particular case. Generally dental problems and arthritis would not be related. I have had numeroud HIV+ patients undergo a wide range of dental procedures/implants or other surgeries and they usually do about as well as the general population. KH

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